Woods to dust off his clubs for his return
By Michael Green, 9 Feb 2010 Michael Green is a Roar Rookie
Rumours of Tiger Woods’ return to golf are rampant as the 2010 PGA Tour is now well underway. His usual opening tournament has come and gone, but the biggest event for the year is just a few weeks away, the Accenture World Matchplay Championship.
Accenture was one of Tiger’s big sponsors and they were one of the first to drop him in favour of an elephant on a surfboard. It would be somewhat ironic and unlikely, if he made his return for this tournament.
Some ardent golf fans have fervently claimed Tiger is not taking a break from golf. Many are adamant this is NOT a break and he’s just going through a rough patch. He will be back playing as usual.
In truth, it doesn’t matter. When he comes back it is going to be massive and all focus (once he steps on the fairway) will be on his golf game and whether he can play as magically as he always did.
The three most interesting comments from fellow professional golfers during his “break from golf” have come from Jesper Parnevik, Geoff Ogilvy and Tom Watson.
Jesper Parnevik gave Woods a right royal flogging over his “transgressions” and given his proximity to Tiger and his wife (he introduced them), then it is probably fair enough.
Geoff Ogilvy has been as candid as anyone when asked about the situation. He suggested he should emerge and speak to the media well before he steps out on to the golf course. This way the rest of the golfers on the PGA Tour can be spared the chaos that will ensue at the tournament if he doesn’t. Nicely put and again hard to fault despite the fact that I think chaos will ensue anyway.
Tom Watson has suggested that when Tiger returns, he not only cleans up his private life but his on-course attitude. Watson admitted to sending Tiger Woods a private letter well before the affairs were made public, encouraging him to stop the tantrums and club throwing. Tiger is supposedly the most fined player on tour, so once more this advice is hard to fault too.
The Herald-Sun’s Mark Hayes hinted that Woods will be teeing it up again in two weeks at the Accenture Matchplay Championship. It is hard to believe but I, like Padraig Harrington found the whole transgression story hard to believe from day one. Anything is possible now.
But when he does return, maybe Tiger’s given name is more appropriate. Eldrick. It is rather plain, less feisty than Tiger and more like a player on tour trying to prove himself once again.
Think of it like when Prince changed his name to the symbol. Once he shows the world just how good he is at his chosen profession, he can reclaim the “Tiger” moniker.
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Brett McKay said | February 9th 2010 @ 7:59am | Report comment
I’ll believe Tiger Woods is playing again when I see him standing on the 1st, and not a minute before….
Tony from Northbridge said | February 9th 2010 @ 8:02am | Report comment
The World Matchplay Championship – the biggest event for the year? Michael, what have you been smoking?
sheek said | February 9th 2010 @ 9:02am | Report comment
Does anyone care anymore….. ?
Michael said | February 9th 2010 @ 9:12am | Report comment
Sorry Tony. I see how that didn’t come through right. The biggest event for the year so far. The rest of the tournaments are non-events compared to this one and therefore an event that Tiger would normally be interested in.
Michael said | February 9th 2010 @ 10:11am | Report comment
Sorry Tony. I see how that didn’t come through right. I meant the biggest event for the year so far.
The rest of the tournaments already played this year are non-events compared to the WGC event and therefore an event that Tiger would normally be interested in.
Phil said | February 9th 2010 @ 3:55pm | Report comment
Tiger legally cahnged his name to Tiger, right?? Seems liek a waste of time going back to Eldrick – he’s done enough already trying to culture his image. I just want him back playing ASAP – golf is so boring without him
AndyH said | February 10th 2010 @ 3:57am | Report comment
Just had a chuckle at the difference in name – and associated character – between Tiger and ‘Eldrick’.
What will it take for him to earn back his stripes (couldn’t help it) and take back the Tiger moniker?
Michael said | February 10th 2010 @ 10:28am | Report comment
I’ve heard rumours he legally changed it but nothing is confirmed.
Jameswm said | February 15th 2010 @ 11:46am | Report comment
Can you imagine the heckling he’ll be getting when he comes back?
John said | February 17th 2010 @ 8:04am | Report comment
The USPGA want him back. They badly need a player who can attract crowds. With Woods off the scene golf is not getting its usual attention.